A large tree that fell in front of a home on Gow Road in Appleton was just one of many that was brought down Tuesday night by the storm. (PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY PAULA BANKS DAHLKE)

ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

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The winds split this tree in half.

Tuesday night's weather event was a "large squall line" that brought straight-line winds throughout Niagara County, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist, Jeff Wood.

The winds that whipped through the area were especially strong closer to the lake, according to many residents in the northern part of the county, some of whom sent photos of damage in Appleton and Barker.

Paula Banks Dahlke of Appleton said a shed on the property next to hers on Gow Road was ripped from the ground and spun in the air before crashing down again. She also said power lines were ripped down causing a live wire to hit a fire hydrant, blowing out the water main and causing a large hole in the road. Despite all that, National Grid was able to make the premises safe to enter by 11:30 p.m.

Wood said NWS measurements show that it was just really windy — in the 50 to 60 mph range. "There was nothing tornadic whatsoever about it," he said this afternoon.

Whatever it was, though, it left a path of destruction in its wake.

This hole was created by a broken water main, which ruptured after a live wire hit a fire hydrant a short distance away.

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More storm damage photos from Paula Banks Dahlke can be found here. If you'd like to share your photos, email us at news@eastniagarapost.com.